The most dangerous part of your trip, they used to say, is when the plane takes off and lands. Not anymore. These days it’s the airport that is the real danger zone, a place where people unleash their worst behaviour.

There’s the person who drops their overweight suitcase on your foot before wandering off without so much as an “Excuse me”. The person who has to go through the security scanner three times, each time finding a few handfuls of coins and keys in their pockets. (Just pull everything out already!) The person who has a meltdown when told they can’t take that two-litre bottle of Coke through security.

Many commentators blame the decline in airport etiquette on our generally heightened stress levels. That’s probably part of the equation, but I think there’s something else at play.

These days I suspect we’re flicking our brains to holiday mood as soon as we enter the airport. That’s not the “I’m so relaxed” holiday mode, but rather the “It’s someone else’s job” holiday mode.

It’s the thought patterns you slip into when you know your tour guide is responsible for getting you to your next stop,  or when you know a fresh cocktail is just a wave of your hand away.

We are expecting everything to unfold seamlessly, forgetting that the airport is an obstacle course. So here is a quick refresher on essential airport etiquette – and if we all follow it, all of us are going to reap the rewards.

Don’t overpack

Airlines are getting stricter about baggage limits, particularly if you are flying with a budget carrier. The only thing more annoying than having to repack your bag at the check-in counter is being stuck in the queue while the person in front of you repacks their bag. It’s a crappy way to start your trip so spare yourself – and the rest of us – and resist the urge to try squeezing in as much as you can.

Don’t put away your boarding pass

Done with check in? Keep your boarding pass and your passport handy. You will need them again: your passport at immigration, your boarding pass at security. If for some reason you are not going straight through to airside and you want to put them somewhere secure, fine. Just remember to get them out while you’re still in the queue, not once you are at the head of it. (And empty your pockets before you go through the scanner, for heavens sake!)

Stack your tray

We’ve all stood there, waiting impatiently for our hand luggage to make it through the scanner. What slows it down is inevitably the emptied trays which bank up until an overworked staffer finally has a moment to pile them up. Instead of walking away without a second glance, do your bit for your fellow travellers and take two seconds to stack your tray. (Fun fact: after years of scrutiny, I can confirm that women are far more likely to stack their trays than men. Men, consider this a challenge.)

Watch your wheels

Airports are by definition chaotic places with people heading in all directions, often at top pace. Don’t drag your wheeled suitcase an arm’s-length behind you: keep it close, so you’re not accidentally knocking over toddlers or running over people’s feet.

Don’t be late

All those screens showing the boarding status of flights are there for a reason. Keep an eye on them to ensure you reach your gate on time. You don’t want to be the person that delays the flight’s departure. There’s nothing ruder than that.